Bulgaria's winemakers
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Agrofitness winery owner Todor Kostadinov, Borovtsi, September 25, 2025. (BTA Photo/Tsvetomir Tsvetkov)
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site.btaBorovtsi Winemaker Revives Old Grape Varieties of the Berkovitsa Region
BTA will present dozens of Bulgarian wineries in the New BG WINE Leads the Way series ahead of the 9th UN Global Conference on Wine Tourism, which will be hosted in Plovdiv. The forum is organized by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the UN World Tourism Organization.
Todor Kostadinov from Borovtsi is reviving the old grape varieties of the Berkovitsa region and recreating the wine once made by the Thracians. The winemaker owns the Agrofitness winery, producing brands like Tribal after the Thracian Triballi tribe, Kolabrismos after the favourite war dance of the Triballi, and Sirm after one of the most successful Triballian kings. The reverence for the Thracians is no coincidence, as they were renowned as the greatest winemakers of antiquity.
Born in Borovtsi, Todor Kostadinov is a hereditary vine grower, who has been involved in grape cultivation and winemaking since childhood. Over the last 30 years, he has been purchasing old vineyards and plots, where he plants new vines. At present, he manages 2 hectares of newly planted vineyards and about 0.8 hectares of narrow-row old vineyards, bought from their former owners. From these, he produces between 8 and 12 tonnes of wine annually, which he bottles in one-litre and 750 ml bottles and sells in restaurants, at farmers’ markets, and at producers’ fairs.
Kostadinov’s wine is made exclusively from old and traditional grape varieties native to the Berkovitsa region - Zarchin, Garvanovo oko, Vranka, Vechnost, Pamid, Gamza, Byal Dimyat, Kokorko, Tamyanka, and others. As for 2025’s grape harvest, Kostadinov believes that despite the summer drought, it is above average and describes it as promising. He notes that the key to a good wine is the winemaking process itself. Care must be taken, because although the harvest is plentiful, the drought has altered the sugar content of the grapes, making them drier, therefore, the wine must be made patiently, he explained.
The name Agrofitness reflects his belief that tending a vineyard is a kind of fitness, highly beneficial to the human body. He founded the winery entirely with his own funds, without loans or credit. Kostadinov also engages in research, studying the antibiotic resveratrol found in vines, which allows the plant to heal itself. The same substance is present in red wine, giving it antibacterial properties.
Visitors can observe the winemaking process at Kostadinov’s home yard in Borovtsi. He has also arranged an exhibition on the history of viticulture and winemaking in the Berkovitsa region over the past centuries, displaying vine roots, grape-picking baskets, hoes and other agricultural tools for vineyard cultivation.
Inside his house, Kostadinov has arranged two wine-tasting rooms where enthusiasts can sample different types of wine from the past decades, some dating back to the socialist era, paired with appetisers suited to each wine. Guests can even taste wine from ancient-style vessels. After the tasting, visitors can tour the wine cellar, where numerous barrels and bottles are stored, as well as a boutique wine-aging cellar.
For tourists, Todor Kostadinov has also built a special guesthouse, featuring three separate rooms, each dedicated to a different grape variety and type of wine.
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